Share Innovations, Successes and Potential Pitfalls to Excel in 2009

LONDON - The National Business Awards now open to entries -

The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success. Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any sector - public or private, companies from across the country are invited to take part in this year’s premier celebration of business excellence.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090421/NY01376 )

Central to The Awards’ 2009 campaign is the call for organisations across the UK to share successful business initiatives and key learnings with industry peers and consumers to grow the nation’s business confidence through recognition.

“This is now the eighth consecutive year that Orange has been headline sponsor of The National Business Awards and we are proud to be recognising, once again, the resilience, adaptability and success of those individuals and organisations that make British business great,” said Paul Tollet, Vice President of Business, Orange UK. “We’re really excited about the 2009 awards and expect to see some outstanding entrants. Nobody can doubt the fact that this is an extremely difficult period for UK business, however, The National Business Awards provides the opportunity to revive some confidence in UK business through the recognition of some of our most talented organisations and individuals.”

Businesses can enter The Awards online at www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk or by contacting the entries team on 020-7234-8755 before noon on 23 July.

Acknowledged as the UK’s leading showcase for achievement in business, The Awards allows companies to benchmark their successes against organisations of all types. Last year’s winners included Sir John Rose of Rolls-Royce; Harriet Lamb of The Fairtrade Foundation; Paul Walsh of Diageo; the DVLA, Hallin Marine Subsea International, CACI, Brakes and Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education.

The category awards include those for technology, better regulation, innovation, small to medium sized businesses, health, work & well-being and customer focus, as well as the coveted Business and Entrepreneur of the Year.

Commenting on winning the coveted 2008 Business of the Year Award, John Quinn, Non-Executive Director, Hallin Marin Subsea International, said: “We are still recovering from the shock of winning and it is too early to say what affects it will have on our business going forward. But, we have enjoyed the whole process. The application was easy to complete, although we reviewed it and sharpened it up after making an initial draft - we realised it really was a case of less is more. The presentation as a finalist was enjoyable and fair but testing. Some of the material we generated for the judging has now found its way into other presentations for the company.

The Awards evening was fun, mixing with like-minded finalists and business people on a sponsor’s table. The whole night was professionally organised and ran smoothly. Would I recommend it to other businesses thinking about entering? Absolutely! It is not as time consuming as you may think and the response from being recognised for making the finals are very positive.”

Made up of 12 categories, shortlisted finalists will be announced on 27th August 2009, before preparing to make their presentations in person before an independent, expert judging panel from 21st September - 2nd October at 30 St Mary’s Axe in London also known as the Gherkin. Winners will be unveiled at a glittering gala award dinner 10th November at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.

The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, is now open for entries. To register call the entries team on: 0207-234-8755 before noon 23 July. Entry forms can be completed online at www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/enter.

For further information please contact:

The National Business Awards Henriette Svensen, PR Manager Telephone: 020-7234-8753/0750-091-7628 Email: henriette.svensen@ubm.com Visit: www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk

About The National Business Awards

The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, is United Business Media’s flagship business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on success, innovation and ethics. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or to enter The Awards call 020-7234-8755.

The combined turnover of entrants in last year’s National programme equated to a staggering 1,261bn pounds Sterling, with profits of 84bn pounds, while it represented more than 4.5 million UK employees. More than 1,200 people attended The 2008 Awards gala dinner including business leaders, press and VIP’s such as HRH The Earl of Wessex and Lord Mandelson, The Secretary of State for Business. Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, The Awards were hosted by Andrew Marr the political commentator and journalist.

About United Business Media

UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

THE NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS SPONSORED BY ORANGE The 2009 Awards categories are: 12 categories open via entries online: - The Orange Best Use of Technology in Business Award - The Health Work & Well-being Award - The Health Work & Well-being Award for Small Business - The Better Regulation Award - The ICAEW Corporate Responsibility Award - The IMechE Business Innovation of the Year Award - The Growth Strategy of the Year Award - The Employer of the Year Award - The Entrepreneur of the Year Award - The Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award - The Marketing Strategy of the Year Award - The Customer Focus Award

There are 4 nomination only categories sponsored by Orange, 3i, Coutts & Co and The Daily Telegraph. Further information on each of these categories and how to nominate outstanding individuals and organisations will be released in May 2009.

Source: United Business Media - The National Business Awards

Henriette Svensen, PR Manager, The National Business Awards, 020-7234-8753/0750-091-7628, henriette.svensen at ubm.com / NOTE TO EDITORS: *Photography is available upon request